Hello Friends,
It's vacation time for me, yay! I'm on hiatus and will not post on the blog for the next seven days. I'm going for a cruise with six ladys and we will meet in Barcelona, then from there on sail with Norwegian Cruise lines. I'm really excited, given that I've never been on a cruise before, (and I can't swim, so that's kind of scary.) But the aim is to breathe the Mediterrenean waters, right? *smile* and gather some info and pictures for my next story idea and of course to share with you.
Alrighty then, see you in about eight days.All the best.
Hugs!
Saturday, 18 August 2012
Wednesday, 15 August 2012
C.Lee McKenzie's Alligators Overhead Launch
Today I'm very excited to help the lovely and talented Lee to celebrate the launch of her Middle Grade novel Alligators Overhead. Lee is giving away ecopy of Alligators Overhead. To be entered for the giveaway, please comment and include your email address. A bit of info about the author and this wonderful MG book, and a superfun trailer at the end of this post.
Book Description
Alligators, witches and a spooky mansion aren't your average neighbors . . . unless you live at the edge of the Ornofree swamp in the backwater town of Hadleyville. The town’s bad boy, Pete Riley, may only be twelve, but he’s up to his eyeballs in big trouble, and this time he isn’t the cause. This time the trouble arrives when a legendary hundred-year-old mansion, materializes next door and the Ornofree alligators declare war to save their swamp from bulldozers. Things only get worse when Pete’s guardian aunt and several of her close friends vanish while trying to restore order using outdated witchcraft. Now Pete must find his aunt and stop the war. He might stand a chance if his one friend, Weasel, sticks with him, but even then, they may not have what it takes.
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About the author
Buy Links:
AMAZON KINDLE
AMAZON PAPERBACK
B & N
SMASHWORDS
Author Pages/contact:
Book Description
Alligators, witches and a spooky mansion aren't your average neighbors . . . unless you live at the edge of the Ornofree swamp in the backwater town of Hadleyville. The town’s bad boy, Pete Riley, may only be twelve, but he’s up to his eyeballs in big trouble, and this time he isn’t the cause. This time the trouble arrives when a legendary hundred-year-old mansion, materializes next door and the Ornofree alligators declare war to save their swamp from bulldozers. Things only get worse when Pete’s guardian aunt and several of her close friends vanish while trying to restore order using outdated witchcraft. Now Pete must find his aunt and stop the war. He might stand a chance if his one friend, Weasel, sticks with him, but even then, they may not have what it takes.
About the author
A native Californian, C. Lee McKenzie lives on
the edge of a redwood forest with her husband and assorted cats. When she's not
writing or blogging she's hiking or practicing yoga. She usually writes young
adult fiction that deals with contemporary, realistic issues. In Sliding on the
Edge (2009) she dealt with cutting, and in The Princess of Las Pulgas (2010)
she wrote about a family that loses almost everything and has to rebuild their
lives together. Alligators Overhead is her first Middle Grade novel. Lee blogs
at [http://writegame.blogspot.com]
and her website is [http://cleemckenziebooks.com]
And now I hand the reins over to Lee. :)
Just a week ago you talked about your scariest
monster when you were little--you mentioned a humongous, rabid Cerberus kind of
dog that had scared you the most. That would scare anybody!
As for myself, besides the Boogie Man that I was
sure peered into my window after I climbed into bed, alligators were right up
there with creatures that gave me nightmares. So why would I ever even think of
making alligators a part of my book? I’m asked that question a lot. I have
answers like this: “Cats and dogs and horses have tons of stories; alligators
don’t have many.” Or, how about: “This idea came to me after I spent a lot of
time staring up at my knotty pine ceiling, and all the brown streaks and knots
looked exactly like alligators overhead.”
Stories are everywhere, even in ceilings! And
writers can find stories in anything that scares people. So alligators and
snakes and big dogs with three heads are perfect for inspiration.
Thanks, Cece for having me here. Hope Alligators
Overhead entertains. That’s really what I wanted it to do . . . with just a
touch of the scare factor to make it fun, too.
Book Trailer:
Book Trailer:
Buy Links:
AMAZON KINDLE
AMAZON PAPERBACK
B & N
SMASHWORDS
Author Pages/contact:
TWITTER : @cleemckenzie
GOODREADS
Tuesday, 14 August 2012
'What If' Blogfest
Welcome to the "What If?" Fairytal Madness Blogfest hosted by Mark, Leigh, Cassie and Morgan. Thank you guys for such a great idea.So a little breakdown of the teams involved. There's Team Tragedy, Team Love Story, Team comedy and Team Plot Twist.
Here are the rules:
To enter:
Think of your favorite "well known" fairytale and ask "What If…!"
Then, pick one of these four categories:
· Best Plot Twist
· Best Love Story
· Best Tragedy
· Best Comic Relief
Other Rules:
· Post your story during the week of August 13 to 17.
· Flash Fiction – 300 WORD MAX. (You don't have to tell the whole story in three hundred words. Pick what works to illustrate your point.)
I'm on :
I'm a big fun of Beauty and the Beast, but I keep asking myself: Did Beauty really end up marrying Beast? What if she never did? Read on to find out. :)
The church doors slammed open. Beauty’s eyes travelled the cold stone path that lead to Renault, her future husband, his chest puffed out. Her sisters sat on the front row watching her, white handkerchiefs in their hands, dabbing at their eyes.
She took a deep, shaky breath, eyes on the floor. Her thoughts yanked her back six nights ago when the villagers led by their mayor, Renault, arrived in masses at Beast’s castle thirsty for blood. Renault had demanded to see her and informed her of father’s arrest, incriminated with embezzling village funds and other sins she was sure he hadn’t committed.
After speaking to her weeping father, he’d confirmed his innocence. He’d been framed. Renault had finally found a way to force her to marry him.
Her thoughts fluttered back to Beast, remembering the state she had left him, face twisted in pain. He’d urged her to save her father. But who was going to save him? If she didn’t break the curse, he’d wither and die. It had been either father’s hanging or Beast.
Beauty lifted her gaze from the floor sprinkled with rose petals, and to her sisters. A piece of their mother was carved in each of their faces. Her eyes flitted to her father, his hat clutched in his hands, his wrinkled fingers fiddling with its rim. He seemed so old and helpless. Her heart bled for him. This was it. She placed one slippered foot on the first step. From a distance, a howl drenched in pain slashed through the air. She brushed her cheeks with her fingers. Her heart shattered a thousand pieces as she forced her feet forward to the man she’d call her husband for all eternity. The howling stopped. Something inside her chest spluttered and fizzled out as she stumbled on.
Thanks for hopping by and reading my snippet. Would you like to join the fun? The linky is still open. To read snippets from other participants:
Here are the rules:
To enter:
Think of your favorite "well known" fairytale and ask "What If…!"
Then, pick one of these four categories:
· Best Plot Twist
· Best Love Story
· Best Tragedy
· Best Comic Relief
Other Rules:
· Post your story during the week of August 13 to 17.
· Flash Fiction – 300 WORD MAX. (You don't have to tell the whole story in three hundred words. Pick what works to illustrate your point.)
I'm on :
I'm a big fun of Beauty and the Beast, but I keep asking myself: Did Beauty really end up marrying Beast? What if she never did? Read on to find out. :)
The church doors slammed open. Beauty’s eyes travelled the cold stone path that lead to Renault, her future husband, his chest puffed out. Her sisters sat on the front row watching her, white handkerchiefs in their hands, dabbing at their eyes.
She took a deep, shaky breath, eyes on the floor. Her thoughts yanked her back six nights ago when the villagers led by their mayor, Renault, arrived in masses at Beast’s castle thirsty for blood. Renault had demanded to see her and informed her of father’s arrest, incriminated with embezzling village funds and other sins she was sure he hadn’t committed.
After speaking to her weeping father, he’d confirmed his innocence. He’d been framed. Renault had finally found a way to force her to marry him.
Her thoughts fluttered back to Beast, remembering the state she had left him, face twisted in pain. He’d urged her to save her father. But who was going to save him? If she didn’t break the curse, he’d wither and die. It had been either father’s hanging or Beast.
Beauty lifted her gaze from the floor sprinkled with rose petals, and to her sisters. A piece of their mother was carved in each of their faces. Her eyes flitted to her father, his hat clutched in his hands, his wrinkled fingers fiddling with its rim. He seemed so old and helpless. Her heart bled for him. This was it. She placed one slippered foot on the first step. From a distance, a howl drenched in pain slashed through the air. She brushed her cheeks with her fingers. Her heart shattered a thousand pieces as she forced her feet forward to the man she’d call her husband for all eternity. The howling stopped. Something inside her chest spluttered and fizzled out as she stumbled on.
Thanks for hopping by and reading my snippet. Would you like to join the fun? The linky is still open. To read snippets from other participants:
Monday, 13 August 2012
KaSonndra Leigh's Hacienda Moon Tour Stop
Today is a review tour stop for KaSonndra Leigh's Hacienda Moon and I'm really excited about it. KaSonndra is also giving away some awesome prizes. The rafflecopter to enter the giveaway can be found at the end of this post.
Author Links:
kasonndraleigh
kasonndraleighbooks
kasonndraleighbookspage
Buy Links:
ebook/dp/B008QAY0BQ
leigh/1112296050?ean=
2940015009330
Book Description:
Love, obsession, and betrayal, the most powerful human emotions, are spun together in this gothic novel. Tandie Harrison is a police medium who has just suffered a divorce after losing both her psychic visions and her daughter in a car accident. When she leaves New York City to start a new life near her hometown, she moves into the alluring plantation house, Chelby Rose, and falls for its charismatic caretaker, Eric Fontalvo. Their burgeoning affair ignites a centuries old curse, ensnaring them in a web of danger, deceit, and intrigue. Soon Tandie learns that in placid Bolivia, the worlds of the living and the dead are dangerously connected.
Hacienda Moon is a seductive tale of one woman’s journey to confront the demons of her past and find the courage to face her future. It is a mesmerizing novel that explores the deepest depths of human nature, and the characters will hold and haunt you long after you have read the final chapter.
My Thoughts:
First of all, I'd like to thank the author for giving me a chance to read and review her latest book.
Hacienda Moon is equal parts romance and spooky (in a good way). I loved it!
The main characters in the book:
Tandie's world is shattered when she loses her baby girl in an accident after a truck rams into them throwing them off a bridge. She survived, her child dies. She picks the pieces of her life, and after going through divorce from her husband moves to Bolivia, North Carolina and starts her life afresh.
Eric Fontalvo is a contractor, goodlooking and knows his way around a broken house. He has been hired to do repairs in Chelby Rose, a house rumoured to be haunted. At first he is cautious, at the same time finds himself pulled toward the beautiful woman, and the new owner of Chelby Rose. He has secrets that date as far back as 250 years.The only way for him to solve whatever that haunts his family is by getting closer to the woman now ocuupying the house where it all began.
Saul Chelby is the owner of the Chelby Rose, the house passed on to him by his father. It has been in his family for centuries. It holds secrets that holds three families in its web. He is mysterious, goodlooking and lives the kind of lifestyle that tends to raise eyebrows. And there is a reason he feels so attracted to the woman he just rented the plantation house Chelby Rose.
Then there are side characters who are just as interesting and important and at times spooky. They are weaved in the story to form larger picture of the story.
The story begins with Tandie's loss. We follow her as she moves from New York, as she begins to glue the pieces of a past that tangles with her present together, then as she falls inlove. And finally her happy ever after - for now. KaSonndra wraps the story well, leaving no threads hanging. At one point, I asked myself what happened to his friend, Virgil, for him to behave the way he did? Maybe a small hint from either Abby or Eric would solve that riddle.
I highly recommend this book. If has all the elements to keep the reader turning the pages. Ghosts,curses, witches, exact dose of romance.
What you can win:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Author Links:
kasonndraleighbooks
kasonndraleighbookspage
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/
Hacienda-Moon-Path-Seekers-ebook/dp/B008QAY0BQ
Barnes&Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.
com/w/hacienda-moon-kasonndra-leigh/1112296050?ean=
2940015009330
Book Description:
Love, obsession, and betrayal, the most powerful human emotions, are spun together in this gothic novel. Tandie Harrison is a police medium who has just suffered a divorce after losing both her psychic visions and her daughter in a car accident. When she leaves New York City to start a new life near her hometown, she moves into the alluring plantation house, Chelby Rose, and falls for its charismatic caretaker, Eric Fontalvo. Their burgeoning affair ignites a centuries old curse, ensnaring them in a web of danger, deceit, and intrigue. Soon Tandie learns that in placid Bolivia, the worlds of the living and the dead are dangerously connected.
Hacienda Moon is a seductive tale of one woman’s journey to confront the demons of her past and find the courage to face her future. It is a mesmerizing novel that explores the deepest depths of human nature, and the characters will hold and haunt you long after you have read the final chapter.
My Thoughts:
First of all, I'd like to thank the author for giving me a chance to read and review her latest book.
Hacienda Moon is equal parts romance and spooky (in a good way). I loved it!
The main characters in the book:
Tandie's world is shattered when she loses her baby girl in an accident after a truck rams into them throwing them off a bridge. She survived, her child dies. She picks the pieces of her life, and after going through divorce from her husband moves to Bolivia, North Carolina and starts her life afresh.
Eric Fontalvo is a contractor, goodlooking and knows his way around a broken house. He has been hired to do repairs in Chelby Rose, a house rumoured to be haunted. At first he is cautious, at the same time finds himself pulled toward the beautiful woman, and the new owner of Chelby Rose. He has secrets that date as far back as 250 years.The only way for him to solve whatever that haunts his family is by getting closer to the woman now ocuupying the house where it all began.
Saul Chelby is the owner of the Chelby Rose, the house passed on to him by his father. It has been in his family for centuries. It holds secrets that holds three families in its web. He is mysterious, goodlooking and lives the kind of lifestyle that tends to raise eyebrows. And there is a reason he feels so attracted to the woman he just rented the plantation house Chelby Rose.
Then there are side characters who are just as interesting and important and at times spooky. They are weaved in the story to form larger picture of the story.
The story begins with Tandie's loss. We follow her as she moves from New York, as she begins to glue the pieces of a past that tangles with her present together, then as she falls inlove. And finally her happy ever after - for now. KaSonndra wraps the story well, leaving no threads hanging. At one point, I asked myself what happened to his friend, Virgil, for him to behave the way he did? Maybe a small hint from either Abby or Eric would solve that riddle.
I highly recommend this book. If has all the elements to keep the reader turning the pages. Ghosts,curses, witches, exact dose of romance.
What you can win:
There'll be one international and one U.S. Winner
You can win a signed copy of
Hacienda Moon, a gorgeous bookmark to match
An e-copy for your reader, an ebook copy of
Morbid Seraphic and Dark Light from CHBB Publishing
-And-
5 mystery ebooks from
various best-selling authors and a $20.00 gift certificate from Amazon to
support other indie authors and publishers!!!
Sunday, 12 August 2012
Six Sentence Sunday
Thanks for stopping by, and welcome back for another six sentences. If you missed the previous six sentences from my YA urban fantasy, Reaper's Novice, and would like to catch up, please click HERE and the second part HERE.
Today I'll post the next six from the dinner scene:
Not when they look like two fighters in
a ring about to charge at each other.
My gaze shifts to Anton, his shoulders
hunched, as if to ward off the words cracking the air like a whip. I look to
Lucy next, her tiny shoulders trembling as she lifts a small, slender hand and
wipes her nose.
Mom’s voice bursts from her lips like bullets
in a quiet forest, jerking my attention back to her and Dad. “You should have
told me. You didn’t bother because you don’t respect me. My decisions.” Her sky
blue eyes flash at Dad, her cheeks flushed.
Feedback/Comments are ALWAYS welcome. Anyone up for meteor showers watching tonight? Here in Vienna should be around midnight.
Have a meteorlicious Sunday
Have a meteorlicious Sunday
Friday, 10 August 2012
Writing Is Like Knitting...
Yesterday I was going through my knit and crochet projects and found these two bags I had done two years ago, and completely forgot about. To say I was pleasantly suprised is an understatement. While 'ooh-ed' and 'aah-ed' at the awesome job I had done on them, my mind flitted from them to writing.
When I started crochet and knit as a hobby, it was mainly for therapeautical reasons (To me, any work I have the chance to use my hands is therapeutic, other than laundry that is.) hm, where was I? Yes. knit and crochet projects. The first projects were... not pretty.
I never gave up though. I bought magazines and downloaded those free patterns from websites that offer step by step instructions. Eventually, I managed to work those knit and purls, as well as crochet into something beautiful. Now I'm proud to call myself knitter, crocheter. (I'm not sure this is the right word)
So why am I comparing Writing to Knitting?
When I started my writing journey, everything about it was like my first knitting projects: missing a purl here, a knit there, a stitch somewhere. There were times I wanted to give up,really.I stumbled on, right now my writing is not perfect, but I can say I've come a long way from that first chapter/ story/paragraph I wrote years ago.I read alot and that helps as well. I enjoy visiting other bloggers and writers blogs. Wonderful people to meet and so much to learn.
Writing might seem like knit, purl, miss a stitch, but eventually with practice, patience and open-mindedness, that pattern repetition will eventually smooth out to a beautiful Cable knit sweater or scarf, whatever you want it to be.
And with that, I'd like to share with you some of my knitting and crochet work. I call these ones "book bags" - I know. Not original..LOL. I'm working on a pink one for my daughter.
I will be doing a 200 follower giveaway soon as a thank you for coming back to visit me, check on me, comment, and even encourage me. A few words go a long way, and for that I REALLY appreciate you. I will do book depository giveaways and probably these bags.
Happy Friday! I say go forth, knit and purl and write with vigor! Let your mind, imagination and fingers take over to weave the best pattern ever. :)
When I started crochet and knit as a hobby, it was mainly for therapeautical reasons (To me, any work I have the chance to use my hands is therapeutic, other than laundry that is.) hm, where was I? Yes. knit and crochet projects. The first projects were... not pretty.
I never gave up though. I bought magazines and downloaded those free patterns from websites that offer step by step instructions. Eventually, I managed to work those knit and purls, as well as crochet into something beautiful. Now I'm proud to call myself knitter, crocheter. (I'm not sure this is the right word)
So why am I comparing Writing to Knitting?
When I started my writing journey, everything about it was like my first knitting projects: missing a purl here, a knit there, a stitch somewhere. There were times I wanted to give up,really.I stumbled on, right now my writing is not perfect, but I can say I've come a long way from that first chapter/ story/paragraph I wrote years ago.I read alot and that helps as well. I enjoy visiting other bloggers and writers blogs. Wonderful people to meet and so much to learn.
Writing might seem like knit, purl, miss a stitch, but eventually with practice, patience and open-mindedness, that pattern repetition will eventually smooth out to a beautiful Cable knit sweater or scarf, whatever you want it to be.
And with that, I'd like to share with you some of my knitting and crochet work. I call these ones "book bags" - I know. Not original..LOL. I'm working on a pink one for my daughter.
I will be doing a 200 follower giveaway soon as a thank you for coming back to visit me, check on me, comment, and even encourage me. A few words go a long way, and for that I REALLY appreciate you. I will do book depository giveaways and probably these bags.
 | ||
| My Book Bags. Crochet and Cable knit |
 |
| Big enough to fit two books |
 | ||
| Alyssa, my baby - and no, she is won't be included in the giveaway.. haha | She wants to learn to knit so Aly and I have a hot date. |
 |
| Donell - my other baby. He isn't included either ..haha He knows how to knit |
Happy Friday! I say go forth, knit and purl and write with vigor! Let your mind, imagination and fingers take over to weave the best pattern ever. :)
Tuesday, 7 August 2012
What was your Childhood Monster Blogfest?
I'm so glad to be taking part in this blogfest hosted by Christine the author of FEARLESS.
Childhood monsters. I believe each one of us had something that scared in our childhood years. Whether it is monsters under the bed, or being run down by a car, or a rabid dog chasing you...
Mine was a humongous rabid dog all fang-y with slobber trickling down from the sides of its mouth, (picture the 3 headed dog in Harry Potter) tongue lolling and crimson eyes ridden with insatiable hunger for my ten year old bony body. I'd wake up in the middle of the night certain it was peeping through the closet, or just waiting for me to slide my legs out of bed so it could snatch me and pull me under.
I still shudder at that image.
I did get over that though. My dearest house pet is our dog Mellie.
So what was yours?
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